Any of you old enough to remember the balata? I was just starting out in the game when they were the ultimate. They were what the stars used in my eyes. Everything else seemed like concrete.
When you found one – and as sprogs you had to find one because you couldn’t afford to buy them – you treasured it. That ball came out on special occasions. But it wasn’t just because it was premium.
It was because hackers like me used to slice them up like a knife cutting through a tomato. A big mishit and that was it. They felt like butter if you pured it but catch one of those balls with the leading edge and they’d crack like an egg.
Today’s balls are basically indestructible in comparison. I read a story recently about someone who played eight rounds with a single ball before it finally gave way during the ninth outing.
But though it may be rarer, there are still occasions when a ball becomes cut or cracked. And the rules do cater for this. So what do you do if this happens to you? It’s all revealed in Rule 4, so let’s take a look…
Cracked golf ball rules: What happens if your ball becomes cut or cracked during a hole?
You can lift your ball to see if it is cut or cracked, so long as you reasonably believe it has happened during the hole being played. You must mark the spot of the ball first – you’ll get a one-stroke penalty if you don’t – and don’t clean the ball unless you’re on the green.
Rule 4.2c (2) says you can substitute a ball “only if it can be clearly seen that the original ball is cut or cracked and this damage happened during the hole being played”.
That’s a crucial point. Scratched, scraped, discoloured or damaged paint is not enough. It has to be cut or cracked. If it doesn’t meet the criteria, you must replace the ball on its original spot.
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If you go ahead and substitute a different ball regardless, and then make a stroke, you’ll get a one-shot penalty under Rule 6.3b.
Got a question for our expert?
Despite the changes to the Rules of Golf in 2019 and 2023, there are still some that leave us scratching our heads. I’ll try to help by featuring the best of your queries in this column.
What do you think of this rule about cracked golf balls? Let me know by leaving a comment below, email me at s.carroll@nationalclubgolfer.com or get in touch on X.
NOW READ: My ball EXPLODED after a shot – what do the Rules say?
